Bav left this morning and I already miss him.
Mr. Chambers came back in the morning and Elaine gave him the already gift wrapped teapot to purchase. I stayed in my office but could hear the slight shock in his voice as he acknowledged the fact that we had handled his wish to purchase yesterday with sincerity.
My 'dinner date' was to be tonight with him. I am still cringing at the thought. I have my outfit and accessories I will be wearing for my protection, I just wish Leo had not put me in this position. I did not enjoy keeping this from Bav. I know in my heart I will not do anything to jeopardize what we have, but I don't know if Leo may have promised something more than I could give....
After the girls had left for the day, I quickly got changed into my dress for the evening. It was quite a plain beige and boring silhouette, with a high neck, puffed shoulders, a minimal bustle and ruffles with lace completed it. I looked like a fancy potato sack. I pulled out my special fragrance that smelled similar to someones unwashed body odor and put a few dabs under my arms and around my neck and hair. Looking at my scrunched up face in the mirror, I agreed out loud.
"Yes, I do notice a strong odor...." I chuckle at the thought of Mr. Chambers becoming disgusted and ending the night early. One can only hope. I make sure my wig is in order before placing my gear and cog mask on that covers my entire face except my eyes. I finish off my look with my top hat pinned in place. My legs have daggers and other defensive weapons, my offensive ones hidden among my jewelry and other adornments.
"Let's get this over with." I say to myself looking at the time. Lady Cog takes care of business and therefore is always on time. Entering my office, I take the secret stair way that's hidden behind the boiler. It takes me to the alley way, where I can slip out and head to the streets. Plenty of people wear masks in town, making it much easier to not stand out, especially in this drab outfit. Most people who wear masks suffer from scars from disease or accidents and use them as a deterrent from the stares and comments of people. I make my way to the lift that will take me to the Club district, the one of ill repute. I had my tester and antidote packs with me for most drugs, poisons and toxins, just in case as well.
Stepping off the lift, I hasten my steps slightly making my way to the little restaurant that serves the higher end patrons on this level. As I walk up to the door, I'm greeted by the door man.
"Evening Lady Cog, Dorothea will show you to your table for this evening. You let us know if you need anything." The tall doorman who was built like an ox, skin color of truffles, and deep voice that echoed throughout his chest, bowed to me.
"Thank you, your are?" I ask him.
"Jebediah, ma'am. They just refer to me as Jeb here."
"Thank you, Jeb. Is my business associate already here by chance?" I ask him, standing up a little straighter.
"Yes, ma'am."
I nod a thank you as he opens the door and I am welcomed by Dorothea, the owner of the establishment.
"Lady Cog, Welcome! Please come this way." She motions for me to follow as I look around, there's enough business that it's not dead, but not crowded either. A man plays a gentle and vibrant composition on the piano under the stairway that Dorothea takes me up. She turns halfway up and whispers to me.
"Jeb already told you if you need anything, we will be there for you?"
I nod.
"Good." She turns back around and heads up as I hear the heavy creak of someone else coming up the stairs. I glance to see it's Jeb, which helps put my mind at ease. Maybe Leo does care enough about me. Anyone can be angry over losing a lot of easy money.
I'm led to a more secluded private dinner area, that sits high over looking the area below. Wrought Iron railing decorates and gives some safety to the balcony like setting, now that we are three stories high. No one else is on this level though.
Well almost no one else.
"My dear Lady Cog, you are as punctual on timing as ever. How are you doing this evening?" Mr. Chambers comes forward bowing to me.
"I'm well, Mr. Chambers. I am on time, my time is money after all." I give a curt nod of my head and make sure that my demeanor says irritated and annoyed.
Mr. Chambers motions for me to have a seat and he goes to pull the chair out for me.
"Thank you." I mutter. As I am sitting, I hear him take a deep breath as if he's smelling me. I smirk under my mask as he clears his throat.
He takes a seat, still smiling, making me want to roll my eyes at him, but I keep staring at him waiting for him to speak.
"Are you going to sit there smiling at me like a buffoon, or are you going to tell me why you felt compelled to ask a mutual acquaintance to have me come to dinner or you would not go through with our deal?" I finally snap and inquire.
Mr. Chambers snaps out of it and looks down seeming quiet.
'This is not normal for this man? What the hell is going on here?'
"You will have to forgive me, it was the only way I could think of to make sure you'd have dinner with me." Mr. Chambers looked embarrassed but shrugged with a big smile on his face.
His little arrogant underhanded tactic makes my jaw clench. "I don't recall you ever asking me like a normal MAN would. You made me look bad to our mutual friend and I do not appreciate it." I growled out.
Mr. Chambers not even phased simply retorts, "If I had asked, would you have said yes?"
I snorted, "No. I have no desire to begin any form of relationship with anyone, other than a business one."
Dorothea and a waiter come out with drinks and appetizers, placing them on the table and scurrying off. I pull out my tester, sampling everything into the little tube placed before me. When nothing shows up, I take the glass of wine, and produce my little straw that I can use, with out having to remove or move my mask.
"Why are you so afraid of starting a relationship with some one?" Mr. Chambers leans closer with his drink in hand, showing great interest in what I may have to say.
Scoffing, I grit out my vexation, "Why because you are someone special? That I am someone special? We meet for business in the Club district, most of the time with whores all over you, and you think I would be interested in you?" My voice starts to ascend to a higher pitch and I take a breath, noticing he's thinking.
"Let me guess, you will change your ways because of me?" I flutter my eyelashes through the mask as him. "That I will make you become a better man?" My disdain is evident even if he can't see me scowling and looking down my nose at him. "No, thank you. I was not born with a cap over my eyes, Mr. Chambers. Men like you do not change and I refuse to be used and hurt by men, period. Now. Shall I tell our friend, that you will still uphold your end of the business deal or shall I go ahead and slit my own throat and spare our friend the trouble of doing it himself if you back out of this deal?"
Mr. Chambers looks upset at me but turns shocked at the last bit of information I spewed at him.
"Your life depends on this deal?"
"Possibly. SO what will it be? I do not care to be held waiting in suspense for answers, Derek Chambers." I tap my foot impatiently.
"Here try the fried bread, it's delicious." He gestures to my plate making me want to scream out in fury at him.
"You can save your neck, if you just enjoy this dinner with me and stop acting like a woman with a chip on her shoulder."
I sigh, moaning in frustration, "Fine, I 'll eat the bloody dinner with you."
I cut the fried breads into tiny pieces, and using my special fork am able to eat and drink with out revealing my face.
"Wouldn't it be easier to eat and enjoy the meal, without that mask on?" Mr. Chambers rests his cheek on his loose fist, staring amused at me.
"No, I don't appreciate the looks I receive when I do not have one on." I say making it seem like I am one of those that is disfigured.
"Very well, have it your way. I picked something up for you. I was told you enjoy tea." He pulls out the package from my shop and it takes everything in me to not snort with laughter.
"Um... Thank you?" I say questionably and unwrapping it. "Oh.." I make sure I sound disappointed when I see it.
"What's the matter, don't tell me it's broken?" He goes to look and I shake my head.
"I bought this one already, yesterday. It was the last one in the shop too. When did you purchase it?" I ask seeming intrigued.
Mr. Chambers huffs, "This morning."
"Well since I already have one, maybe gift this one to your mother or sister maybe?" I suggest.
"I am giving it to you." Mr. Chambers iterates.
"Very well, I shall gift it to Dorothea when she comes back. I don't have need of a second tea set that matches the one I already have." I place the teapot back in the box and take another sip of my wine.
"Lady Cog, I must be open about something with you. I must say, this night really seems to be backfiring on me. I have never put any amount of effort into merely having dinner with a woman in my life before. Even when I tried courting them. I find that even when I put forth the effort, it's tossed aside like garbage. It's very disappointing." He says resembling a puppy who's been spanked.
I take a good look at him, before sighing in annoyance, "Mr. Chambers, I have no idea what you expected of this minor event you planned, yet the outcome is this. I have no desire to pursue anything other than a formal business relationship with you, or anyone. I will not apologize for being a woman who's head is filled with cogs and gears instead of helium, like some, who's heads are higher in the clouds than our airships. I will apologize for not being able to appreciate your efforts and thoughtfulness, even though it was all in vain. I will say thank you for the meal and gift though."
I remain stern, only lightening up my tone at the end. Dorothea brings out the main course at this time and places our meals before us. She quickly leaves from the tense atmosphere as Mr Chambers and I, stare at one another.
Finally, I break our stare and begin to check the food laid in front of me.
"You know, Lady Cog, this is a large part of the reason why I wish to get to know you."
"Because I check my food for toxins and drugs?" I spare a glance his way from the test tubes.
Chuckling he shakes his head, "No, my lady. Because you have a mind of your own attached to that stubborn back bone. By the way, I don't sleep with those whores. I just have them to not seem suspicious when I'm down here in the district doing business."
I think about the times I have been down here and he did always seem bored..
"If that helps you have a more open mind, Lady Cog." He adds cutting into his meat.
'He will not give up, will he?'
"Will you please have dinner with me again, tomorrow, Lady Cog? We can go to a place in the works district, I believe you may feel more comfortable eating there."
"I do have to say Mr. Chambers, I admire your refusal to admit defeat on the matter..." I start and he cuts me off.
"I'll do the work for Ten percent instead, if you go to dinner with me tomorrow."
I pause. 'Leo would receive that twenty percent as compensation for the opium dealings. This would get me back into good standing with him.'
"Very well, Mr Chambers. Dinner tomorrow, eight." I get back to my food, noticing the smile that has crossed Mr Chambers face.